All posts by Matt

Insect Lore Butterfly

When looking for another method of teaching children about nature, look at the selections for an Insect Lore Butterfly product.  Butterflies have enthralled and delighted people for thousands of years and have been depicted in artwork from these centuries past as well.  They are fascinating additions to the planet, and their metamorphosis is one of the most incredible transformations that children and adults alike will enjoy.  There are a variety of butterfly gifts and products to select as gifts or educational projects.

 

Butterfly Gardens

 

One of the most fascinating products is a butterfly garden.  This is an enclosed mesh pavilion that provides a home to the creatures as they metamorph from the eggs, to the larvae, through the construction of the chrysalis, and the emergence of the beautiful adult butterfly.  These come with instructions for the care and feeding of the creature through all the stages of its transformation.  They come in a variety of sizes and designs that are perfect for the classroom or a home.

 

Books and DVDs

 

 A variety of books about butterflies are available for both young and old.  There are delightful stores about these butterflies, and educational books about these interesting creatures and the various species that are found across the planet.  There are also several selections that help students identify the difference between moths and butterflies and their native regions.  There are also a variety of books that providing great ideas for activities involving butterflies that are excellent for teachers seeking new project ideas.

 

There are also varieties of DVDs that provide the students with a lot of information about butterflies and other insects.  These help the students identify the various species of these stunning creatures, and discusses their transformation and feeding habits.

 

Puzzles

 

Many people, both young and old, enjoy putting together jigsaw puzzles, and they have a variety of puzzles that portray various species of butterflies, moths, and other species.  Some puzzles depict the anatomy of the butterflies, while others show the species, and life cycle of this beautiful living thing.

 

Food and Butterfly Feeders

 

Most communities find those who enjoy having butterflies around their homes and will purchase food and feeders that will help attract these wonderful beings.  The food contains various types of nectar that attracts a variety of species.  There are also a variety of feeders that people can purchase to attract the butterflies.

 

Live Caterpillars

 

This company provides the caterpillars that can be placed in the butterfly pavilions so that the students can observe the metamorphosis of these creatures.  Typically, these will turn into Monarch or Painted Lady butterflies.  There are also instructions for feeding the caterpillars and plants for gardens that attract the butterflies after they are released.

 

Posters

 

One gift that children who enjoy butterflies will love are posters of the beautiful Painted Ladies and Monarch butterflies.  These posters are excellent illustrations of these stunning creatures and are perfect for the child’s bedroom or even the classroom.

Butterfly Bush: Loved by People and Butterflies Alike

Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush

The beautiful flowering butterfly bush is so named because it attracts butterflies, making it a striking conversation piece in any yard.  Butterfly bushes get very large, so keep that in mind when choosing a place to plant one.  They usually get at least six feet tall and can get much taller in good growing conditions.  The flowers are in large spiked clusters of pink, purple, red or white with orange throats.  Butterfly bush should not be confused with the orange wildflower known as butterfly.

The butterfly bush is hardy in zones 5 to 10, which is most of the southern half of the US.  The butterfly bush was originally found in the Orient, then was taken to France for cultivation.  In Europe it was called “summer lilac” because of the large fragrant flower clusters that resemble lilac. The plant attracts hummingbirds as well as butterflies.

Butterfly bushes are easy to grow as long as they have normal garden soil and at least six hours of daylight per day.  Of course, you also need to remember to give them plenty of room.  Some people like to prune them back to half their size in the late summer so that they will have new growth and lots of blooms when the butterflies migrate in September and October.  They also stay in bloom better when you remove dead flowers.  An established bush is somewhat tolerant of drought conditions.

There is one drawback with butterfly bushes, according to some experts.  Since the bush is not native to North America, and since it is so easy to grow, it is considered an invasive species in some places.  They also argue that it doesn’t really help the butterflies that come to it because it is not a suitable host plant for them.  That is, it is not a plant where they can lay eggs, and which will feed the caterpillars.

If you already have a butterfly bush that you enjoy every year, you can make it more environmentally friendly by removing the dead heads before they go to seed and trimming the plant back each year.  If you use a heavy mulch around the bottom, you won’t have to worry as much about new seedlings coming up.  Make your butterfly garden even more useful to butterflies by planting some milkweed relatives, such as the butterfly weed

Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush